II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 5113 

To delay the application of a certain rule for members of the Armed Forces 

and diplomats stationed in a foreign country and for individuals with 

service animals, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 

Mr. CRAMER (for himself, Mr. KING, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. HOEVEN, and Mr. 

RISCH) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

A BILL 

To delay the application of a certain rule for members of 

the Armed Forces and diplomats stationed in a foreign 

country and for individuals with service animals, and 

for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Homeward Bound 

5 Act’’. 


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•S 5113 IS

1 SEC. 2. DELAYED APPLICATION OF RULE FOR MEMBERS OF 

2 THE ARMED FORCES, DIPLOMATS SERVING 

3 IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, AND INDIVIDUALS 

4 WITH SERVICE ANIMALS. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The rule entitled ‘‘Control of 

6 Communicable Diseases; Foreign Quarantine: Importation 

7 of Dogs and Cats’’ published by the Department of Health 

8 and Human Services in the Federal Register on May 13, 

9 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 41726) shall not be applied until the 

10 date that is 18 months after the date of the enactment 

11 of this Act with respect to— 

12 (1) any covered individual seeking to import a 

13 dog from a low-risk country for rabies (as defined by 

14 the Secretary); and 

15 (2) any individual seeking to import a service 

16 animal from such a country. 

17 (b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

18 (1) COVERED INDIVIDUAL.— 

19 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘covered in20 dividual’’ means— 

21 (i) a member of the Armed Forces 

22 who is stationed in a foreign country; and 

23 (ii) any individual serving as per24 sonnel at a United States diplomatic or 

25 consular post. 


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•S 5113 IS

1 (B) INCLUSION OF FAMILY MEMBERS.— 

2 The term ‘‘covered individual’’ includes a family 

3 member of an individual described in clause (i) 

4 or (ii) of subparagraph (A) stationed in the 

5 same location as the individual. 

6 (2) SERVICE ANIMAL.—The term ‘‘service ani7 mal’’ has the meaning given such term in section 

8 37.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or 

9 successor regulations). 

10 SEC. 3. REVISING RULE RELATING TO IMPORTING DOGS. 

11 Not later than 10 days after the date of the enact12 ment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human 

13 Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for 

14 Disease Control and Prevention, shall revise part 71 of 

15 title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, to allow an indi16 vidual to import into the United States, at any port of 

17 entry, from a low-risk country for rabies (as defined by 

18 the Secretary)— 

19 (1) a dog of any age; or 

20 (2) a dog born before the date of the enactment 

21 of this Act that is not microchipped. 

22 SEC. 4. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING AUTHORITY 

23 OF SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 

24 Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting 

25 the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to enforce 


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•S 5113 IS

1 any provision of law over which the Secretary of Agri2 culture has jurisdiction. 

Æ 


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